Learning to be a couple ...

Seems silly ... seeing as how we've been dating/married for almost 15 years ... we had the couple thing down ... until Ethan turned our world upside down. When we found right side up, we were all of a sudden a family. Finding the "couple" in our relationship wasn't high on the priority list as we waded through all the changes of becoming a family. But it is so very important and we're realizing that more each day as Ethan grows and becomes more independent and we have a wee bit more time to focus on being a husband and wife.

We had our first "taste" of real couple-dom this weekend. Our FIRST overnight trip where one of us was not with Ethan. And guess what, all three of us survived just fine. And it gave me a taste of re-connecting as a couple ... and while we were at a leadership retreat for church and had only a few hours by ourselves, it was wonderful. I laughed as we drove up into the mountains, stopping for a quick sandwich and Starbucks ... looked at Matt and said, "Remember this? This is how we used to travel."

So all this has got me so excited for our 10 year anniversary trip. Remember how awhile back I mentioned a home equity loan? Well let me say I'm the first to warn against debt of any kind. Outside of homes and cars we've never had to experience it ... and that is so, so very freeing for your life in so, so many ways. However, in the past year we've been hit with various issues which have pretty well drained our "reserve" money. Money to pay for something like an anniversary trip. So, we took a loan against our equity (secured debt, while still debt, is much safer than unsecured debt) for this trip. It's important to both of us, something we both have wanted to do, something I can't guarantee will happen in another 20 years. It's a bit of living in the moment as practically as we can. It's a temporary loan that will be paid off by the time we hit our 11th Anniversary.

Are you sick of me blabbing yet? Come on, I've got several days of no posts I'm making up for ;). So, onto the fun stuff, where I need your opinion ... we're headed to ...

HAWAII

And I've narrowed our choices down to two ... a resort in Kauai and a resort in Maui ... Now you can't go by pictures alone, although I could keep looking at them all day. They are both incredible looking and they both are in incredible places.

Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa
*All the rooms at this resort are suites with full kitchens. It's right by a large shopping area. It doesn't have beachfront access for swimming or snorkeling. It's a very new facility with not a lot of ratings, some are great, some are not.*



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Based on 28 reviews worldwide

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Westin Maui Resort & Spa
*All the rooms at this resort promise a wonderful night's sleep on their famous Heavenly Bed. Which Matt has experienced, thus swaying him greatly toward this resort ;). It also has beachfront access where you can swim & snorkel*



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Based on 439 reviews worldwide

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Pool

So it all feels like such a BIG decision, such a big investment of money and we want our time there to be free of headaches with the resort.

So I'm up for all advice, opinions and if you've stayed in either Maui or Kauai I REALLY welcome your advice. Because really this is a bit of shot in the dark ... I'm relying on books and online reviews and hoping for the best.

Either way, after 6 nights and 7 days I think Matt and I will have remembered how to be a couple!!

Happy Monday (of a very fun week for me)!!